Maiko at Miyagawa-cho

Maiko is an apprentice Geisha who are only seen in Kyoto. After going through five-year-training period, they become a Geisha, a professional entertainer and Japanese style party hostess. Their life was introduced in the Hollywood movie 'Memoir of Geisha'.They are like cute Japanese dolls with white face.

Maiko and Geiko Dancing Gion Kouta

Maiko on the left and Geiko on the right are dancing to the tune of 'Gion Kouta' or 'Four seasons in Gion'. They are posturing as if they are pouring a cup of sake to each other.

Kotoin Zen temple

Kotoin, a sub temple of Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto, is a zen temple which was built by Hosokawa Tadaoki, a warlord in 1602 during the warring state period. Bamboo grove at the entrance is quiet and peaceful.

Posing Maiko and Geiko

Maiko and Geiko are posing while dancing 'Gion Kouta'. They make gestures to express their emotions instead of changing their facial expressions.

Maiko wearing willow hairpin

Maiko on the right side wears a willow hairpin which represents June. Geiko and Maiko's kimono also look light as it's hot and humid in Kyoto. Their kimono and hairpins indicate seasonal change.

Showing posts with label New Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New Year. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 4, 2012

New Year charms

Posted by Tammy Ota at 8:57 AM 0 comments

This is a bamboo rake and a charm for raking in good fortune sold at shrines during new year holidays. 
Seven deities of good fortune drawn from Buddhistm, Shinto and Taoist traditions are on board a treasure ship. These deities are believed to give people longevity, talent of music and art and prosperity in business. It’s a popular custom for the Japanese to visit temples and shrines of these seven deities.
  
Egg plant, hawk and Mt. Fuji are something we can have happiness for the coming year if we have a dream of one of them during the new year holidays.

Rice straw rope is hung at the entrance of a house. An orange and fern are put onto the sacred straw rope with white paper. In the center of the rope, Somin Shorai, a name of a Chinese man is written. According to a legend, he was a poor younger brother who offered a room to Gozutenno, a Chinese deity who is believed to get rid of a bad luck whereas his rich older brother didn’t when the deity asked both of them for a room overnight. The younger brother became rich and happy with the help of the deity so
It’s believed if we put this name on the straw rope, we will be able to avoid bad luck.  

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New Year display

Posted by Tammy Ota at 8:34 AM 0 comments

Happy New Year! Akemashite Omedetou!
(bamboo arrangement is displayed at Kyoto Station )


 Christmas displays at department stores, grocery stores and stations are changed to New Year displays over the night. The change is so sudden but through.
Various colored chrysanthemums, plum branches are put into bamboo stems and put on red carpet and places in front of gold screen. 
Gold and red are regarded as happy color representing lighthearted atmosphere of a new year. 
We had an unprecedented disaster last year so I pray for a peaceful year.
      
 

The picture below is ordinary New Year’s pine and bamboo decorations. The flower arrangement above was done by new  style of arranging flowers.



(Kadomatsu-bamboo and pine decoratioin)



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